Latest U.S. Department of State News
Russia's FSB opens espionage case against American
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's Federal Security Service said Thursday it has initiated an espionage case against a U.S. citizen, but did not name the person or specify whether they were in custody. In a brief statement, the FSB service said the American is “suspected of collecting...

US envoy says Russian Wagner Group's activities intolerable
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A senior U.S. envoy expressed strong concern Thursday about the activities of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group and its alleged attempts to recruit soldiers in Serbia and elsewhere in the world. U.S. State Department Counselor Derek...

US extends protection for ex-Trump aides from Iran threats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has again extended government protection to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and one of his top Iran aides due to persistent threats against them from Iran. In separate notices sent to Congress late last week, the State Department...
Bernard Kalb, longtime foreign affairs newsman, dies at 100
NORTH BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — Bernard Kalb, a former television reporter for CBS and NBC who quit his job as a State Department spokesman to protest a U.S. government disinformation campaign against Libya, died Sunday. He was 100. His younger brother, Marvin Kalb, told The Washington...

Majority of 16k canceled Pa. mail-in ballots were from Dems
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New data from Pennsylvania's elections agency shows an early November state court decision that barred mail-in ballots without accurate handwritten dates on their exterior envelopes resulted in otherwise valid votes being thrown out. The Department of State...

US changes to Turkey's preferred spelling at ally's request
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Thursday it has adopted Turkey’s preferred spelling for the name of the country, Turkiye, acceding to a request from the NATO ally after several months of hesitation. The department has instructed that new official documents refer to...

US-based Bidoon poet, activist says Kuwait deporting her
ROME (AP) — A Bidoon poet and activist who holds U.S. citizenship said Tuesday that Kuwait was deporting her against her will after she traveled to the oil-rich nation to visit her family. Mona Kareem, 35, told The Associated Press that she had been at Kuwait International Airport...

Social secretary helps 'people's house' welcome the people
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cookies forgotten in purses until they crumble. Complaints about not being invited. Boycotts over political disagreements with President Joe Biden. After a couple of party-free years because of the coronavirus pandemic, White House holiday parties are back — and...

Agency argues against delay in filling 3 Pa. House vacancies
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's statewide elections agency said in a court filing Friday that it is moving ahead with plans for special elections to fill three state House vacancies in early February unless a court orders otherwise. The Department of State and acting...

GOP seeks May vote on Dem vacancies in House power struggle
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania House’s Republican leader on Thursday submitted paperwork seeking to wait until the May primary before holding special elections in two vacant districts, the latest move in a power struggle over control of the nearly evenly divided chamber. ...
